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Register as a Charity

To register with the Charities Commission, you first need to register your Charity with Companies House. With Duport, the whole process is quick and easy.

Start your Charity
  • Companies House registration
  • All legal documentation
  • Get set up for registration with the Charities Commission

What is a Charity?

Charitable Companies are organisations which are registered with Companies House, and disburse profits for public benefit according to their Charitable Aims. This is the main difference between a Charity and a Non-Profit, which puts all funds back into the organisation itself, and can be for the benefit of a specific group of people.

As well as registering with Companies House, Charities should also register with the Charity Commission if they are located in England or Wales, or the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator for Scotland. This isn't a requirement if your income is less than £5,000.

Charities don't have Shareholders, but have Trustees, who govern how the Charity operates. Trustees and Directors are not able to take dividends from the Charity, but can be employed by it and draw a salary. Charities are also not taxable entities, as all profits should be directed towards its Charitable Aims.

Key Considerations

  • No profits

    All profits must be put towards the company's Charitable Aims

  • Tax exempt

    Charities do not pay tax, as their funds are directed towards their Charitable Aims

  • More paperwork

    Charities must comply with Companies House filing requirements, and must also stay up to date with the Charity Commission

  • Public registration

    Director and Trustee details are listed at Companies House, although you can keep addresses private with additional services

  • Limited liability

    The Charity itself carries all liability for debts, not the Directors or Trustees

How it works

Forming a Charity is a two step process that starts at Companies House. Once you've registered your Charity at Companies House and set up a business account, you can then register with the Charities Commission.

  1. Register in under 5 minutes

    Our registration process is so straightforward, with no complex questions to trip you up

  2. Get help with your Charitable Aims

    Duport can help you write your Charitable Aims, with expert guidance so you get it right

  3. Set up your FREE Business Account

    Charities must have their own account, and Duport's partners can provide yours for free

  4. Duport complete your registration

    We check over and submit your details to Companies House for a successful registration

  5. Receive your documentation

    You'll be sent your Company Number, Incorporation Certificate, Memorandum and Articles of Association

  6. Register with the Charities Commission

    With your Companies House registration and business account in place, you can now register with the Charities Commission

Setting up a Charity can be complex, but Duport are here to help you. From your initial registration with Companies House, to support and services as your Charity develops.

Start your Charity

Start your business the right way with Duport

Forming a Charity can be complicated, but Duport are here to make it simple. We know exactly what you need to get your Charity started, from setting out your Charitable Aims, to opening a business account.

We make sure you have everything you need in place before you register with the Charities Commission.

When you choose Duport you get:

  • Quick & easy online registration
  • Specialist advice for Charities
  • Support from our friendly team of experts
  • All you need for registration with the Charities Commission

You're forming your Charity to help others, and Duport are here to help you make that happen.

Get Started

Packages start from £69.99

It's quick and easy to get your Charity up and running with our online registration process. We'll help you through all the steps so that you can get your new business started, and we'll be here to help you as you grow.

Register your new business

Get access to ExclusiveServices

Starting your Charity is so much more than just registration. With Duport you can also get access to exclusive services and optional extras, from keeping your personal details off the public register, to setting up a free business account.

  • Service address

  • Domain services

  • Registered office

  • Accountancy services

  • Banking options

Popular FAQs

Still have questions? Here are the answers to some of the most common questions people ask about Charities

If you plan to put all earnings towards your charitable aims this could be the right option for you, especially if you plan to register with the Charity Commission.

Directors of Charities need to be at least 16 years of age, you cannot be an undischarged bankrupt, and you must not currently be disqualified as a Director.

To register your Charity you will need to provide the following details:

  • As the person setting up the business, you will need to provide your:
    • Phone number
    • Email address
  • All Directors and Trustees will need to provide their:
    • Full name
    • Occupation
    • Current address
    • Date of birth
    • Nationality
    • Security question & answer
  • Your Charity name
  • The address of your Charity

If you want to keep your Charity’s address, or the addresses of any Directors or Trustees off the public register, you can use our Service Address and Registered Office Address services.

IDs of all Directors and Trustees will be checked electronically, but in some cases we may need to request further proof of ID or address.

Charities need to have their own account for their finances.

If you register with Duport, you can get a free business account as part of the process.

Charities have annual filing requirements with both Companies House and HMRC. These include:

  • Confirmation Statement
  • Statutory Accounts
  • Balance Sheet
  • Profit & Loss Account

If you don’t want to spend your time and energy keeping on top of all your financial and filing requirements, Duport have a range of Accountancy services that can manage it all for you.

If you are using a personal address as your Registered Office, or want to keep the addresses of Directors and Trustee private, then you can use Duport’s Service Address and Registered Office Address service to keep these details off the public register.

Yes, you can register from outside the UK, but you will need a UK Registered Office. If you don’t have a suitable address for this, you can use Duport’s Registered Office service.

You can cancel your order at any point. Refunds will only be issued if you have not accessed any of your purchased services.

Your right to a refund is waived if:

  • Your registration has been submitted to Companies House
  • OR
  • You have requested or viewed any digital ebooks or reports included in your purchase

Your initial registration is a one-off service. However your package may include services that do need to be renewed annually. These can include:

  • Service Address and Registered Office Address services
  • Domain & hosting services
  • Accountancy services

Charities do not necessarily need to register with the Charities Commission, although it is recommended.

If your Charity’s annual income is above £5,000 you will be required to register with the Charity Commission.

You will need to if you wish to describe yourself as a “Registered Charity” and use a Registered Charity Number.

Need some help?

If you need a little advice on the best options for you, or have a question that's not in our FAQ, Duport's expert team are here to help. Give us a call during office hours or email us any time and we'll help you out.